Schengen rules

What is a Schengen visa? A Schengen visa, is a visa issued by Denmark or another Schengen country which permits free travel within the Schengen area, if not stated otherwise on the visa.

The maximum duration of a visa stay is 90 days.

Who needs a Schengen visa?
All Chinese nationals are required to obtain a visa before entry into Denmark or other Schengen countries. The type of visa depends on the length and purpose of the stay. For other nationalities, please see the list of nationals who do need a visa to visit Denmark.

If you have been granted certain types of residence or re-entry permits in another Schengen country, you do not need a visa to enter Denmark or other Schengen countries.

If you hold a residence card issued under the EU regulations on free movement, you do not need a visa to enter Denmark. This can be either a credit-card size plastic card or a residence sticker in your passport.

Please note that even if you hold of a Schengen short-term visa you are still subject to immigration control and are not guaranteed entry into any of the Schengen countries.

With prior appointment only, applications for visa can be submitted at the Danish diplomatic representations in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Visa Application Centres

Find addresses and office hours of the Danish visa centres and representations here.

The visa application centres offers you:

A fast and convenient service

Preminum Lounge

AliPay (Beijing Visa Application Centre only)

Daily opening hours from 8:00 – 15:00

No or little queuing

Copy and photo service available at a fee

Advice on how to complete your application and what documents to attach

Tracking system, so you will know when your case has been processed

The passport can be returned by postal service

All visa applications (including all types of residence and work permits) will be accepted and passed back to the applicant by VFS Global Services Ltd. Please note that all decision making is still made by the Embassy or Consulates.

From which Schengen country should I apply for my visa?

You must apply for a visa from the country of your main destination, that is, the Schengen country where you will spend most days. If you spend an equal amount of time in two or more countries, you must apply for a visa to the country of your first entrance into the Schengen area.

For example: If you plan to have four days of meetings in Denmark followed by two days of meetings in Sweden, you should apply for a visa at one of the Danish Visa Application Centres. If you are staying four days in Denmark followed by four days in Sweden, you should still apply at the Danish Visa Application Centres, since Denmark is the first destination of your visit to the Schengen countries. If you spend two days in Denmark and four days in Sweden, however, you must apply for a visa at a Swedish representation.

Please note that deviation from the above rule is illegal.

Official Passports and ordinary passports

Visa applicants with official passports (service passports, passports "for public affairs") apply for their visas via the competent department for Foreign Affairs of the Chinese Ministry or Commission.

Diplomatic passports issued by China are visa exempt.

Visa for Iceland

The Danish Consulates General in Shanghai and Guangzhou represent Iceland, so visa applications for Iceland can be submitted at the Visa Application Centres belonging to Shanghai and/or Guangzhou. In Beijing, Iceland has an embassy and applications can be submitted directly to the embassy.

Visa for Greenland and The Faroe Islands

Visa applications to Greenland and the Faroe Islands should be submitted to a Danish Visa Application Centre. Other Embassies in the Schengen cooperation cannot grant you a visa for Greenland or the Faroe Islands.

Applicants from Hong Kong

Applicants from Hong Kong may submit their visa application for Denmark at the Finnish Consulate General in Hong Kong, here.

Applicants from Mongolia

Applicants from Mongolia may submit their visa application for Denmark at the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar. This means that the application procedure for a visa to Denmark from Mongolia must be in accordance with German visa regulations and requirements.

Applicants should follow the lists of documentation from the German Embassy and make sure that all necessary documents are enclosed for obtaining a visa to Denmark. For more information, please see the website of the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar here.

Applicants should be aware that letters of invitation must be legalized in accordance with German law, when applying for a visa to Denmark from the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar.

Further information on procedures and instructions can be obtained by contacting the German Embassy or the Royal Danish Honorary Consulate in Ulaanbaatar.

Mongolian applicants for residence permits should apply via one of the Danish Visa Applicantion Centres in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou or Chongqing, because the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar is not authorized to receive these applications on behalf of the Danish authorities.

Information about nationals who are subject to prior consultation

For information about nationals who are subject to prior consultation please click here and go to the 'Annex 16'.

How to apply for a Schengen visa

Simply follow this 4-step application plan:

Step 1 – Download or print the Document Checklist. You can find the checklists here in "Application forms for short term visas" and "Information about residence permits - more than 90 days".

The ‘Document Checklist’ will give you a complete overview of all documents and forms you need to submit when applying for a visa.

Step 2 – Collect all needed documentation.

Fill in the relevant application form and collect the documentation mentioned in the relevant document checklist.

The Danish Embassy and the Consulate Generals in China do no longer require that the data page plus pages including visa for USA/UK/Canada/Australia and any Schengen visa including entry/exit stamps (issued in the last 3 years) should be in colour. Thus copies of data page and the above mentioned visa can be handed in in black and white. However, applicants need to ensure that the black and white copies are readable and in good quality. Furthermore, the Danish Embassy and Consulate Generals in China do no longer require colour copies of the passport (all pages) in applications for residence and work permit. However, black and white copies of all pages in the passport must be readable and in good quality.

Other supporting documents are still required to be colour copies.

Step 3 – Submit the application.

Carefully check that you have collected all supporting documentation. Then, arrange the documents according to the order in the ‘Document Checklist’ and submit the “package” by personal appearance at the Visa Application Centre. The visa procedure takes app. 5-11 working days. Please be informed that an application submitted can be processed for as long as 3 months.

Applicants should follow the lists of documentation to make sure that all necessary documents are enclosed for obtaining a visa. Please pay special attention to any legalised documents required from the lists, as legalisation procedure an take from 2-14 days. Failure to submit documents, which are rquired for the case processing, within 5 days may lead to an rejection of the case. All missing documents must be forwarded at the same time.

Step 4 – Visa is issued.

The Visa Application Centre will contact you when your visa is ready. Within the first five working days there is no reason to contact us. We will contact you in case something is missing in your application or if further information is required.

When you pick up your visa, please bring the application receipt issued by the Visa Application Centre (you received this receipt, when the Visa Application Centre accepted your visa application).

Period of grace:

According to Schengen visa regulations, the Danish diplomatic representations will always add a “grace period” to your validity period of your visa. This means that we will add 15 days to your visas validity beyond what is mentioned on your invitation and/or dispatch letter.

Please note, that validity period and duration of stay is not the same.

To exemplify, if you in your application form applied for a 10 days visa, The Embassy will always give you 15 days of grace, in total 25 days. But the effective period of stay will still be as you applied; 10 days.

Therefore it is utmost important, that your travel insurance will have to cover the effective period of stay, i.e. the time you actually spent in Denmark/Schengen.

Business Schengen visa: Applicants who are going on a business trip or participating in a scientific arrangement in Denmark must apply for a business visa. As a general rule you must be able to substantiate (prove) the business or scientific visit by invitations and other supporting documentation.

Business visa:
Download the document checklist for business visa below:

Private Schengen visa:
Applicants visiting family or friends in Denmark must apply for a private Schengen visa. As a general rule you must be able to substantiate (prove) the family or friend relation.

'ADS' (Approved Destination Status) is a bilateral agreement reached between China and Denmark that makes it possible for Chinese citizens to travel to Denmark and other Schengen countries for tourism. This arrangement allows agencies to apply for visas to a group of at least five people accompanied by a tour guide. The visa will have a single entry to Denmark and the Schengen area and a validity of maximum period of 30 days

STV (supplementary tourist visa) arrangement:

This allows agencies to apply for visa on behalf of an individual tourist or groups for Denmark and the Schengen area. Visas will have a single entry and a validity of maximum 30 days. Furthermore it is not a requirement, that the tourists are accompanied by a tour guide. It is an essential condition that the tourist has purchased a package journey via an accredited Chinese travel agency, as listed below. A package journey must at least include transportation and hotel reservations.

Information about residence permits - more than 90 days

Residence permit

Applicants, who are going to study, seek family reunification, work (also as au pairs) etc. for a period exceeding 90 days must apply for a residence permit. The applications can be submitted in China, but the Danish Immigration Service or the Danish Agency for Labour will process the case.

Applicants for a residence permit will have their biometrics recorded. When handing in their applications a picture will be taken, as well as fingerprints and a signature.

Third-country nationals bound by visa requirements will be issued a long-stay visa when applying for a residence permit. The visa will allow them to enter Denmark and receive a residence card with biometric features.

Where to submit a residence permit application

Beijing: the Visa Application Centre, no appointment necessary.

Chengdu: the Visa Application Centre. No appointment necessary, however, for group application of more than (including) 5 applicants, please make an appointment no less than five working days ahead of time by emailing or calling the Visa Application Centers (VACs).

Chongqing: the Visa Application Centre. No appointment necessary, however, for group application of more than (including) 5 applicants, please make an appointment no less than five working days ahead of time by emailing or calling the Visa Application Centers (VACs).

Fuzhou: the Visa Application Centre, no appointment necessary.

Guangzhou: the Visa Application Centre. No appointment necessary, however, for a group application of more than (including) 5 applicants, please make an appointment by emailing gzgroup@vfshelpline.com.

Which residence permit application forms are needed depends on the purpose of coming to Denmark. Please use the Immigration Service application form guide to download and fill out the correct form here.

When applying for any kind of residence permit or extension of a residence permit you will need to first create a case order ID and pay online here.

Please note that the fee must be paid directly to the Danish Immigration Service before the application is submitted. An additional fee is to be paid to the Visa Application Center, when they receive your application
You can find further information about fees here.

Before handing in your application, make sure that you have all required documentation. Please see the checklist inside the application form for requirements and make sure that all documentation is complete before you submit your application.

When submitting your application, please make sure to bring original documentation as well as a copy of these. The original, supporting documentation will be returned to you immediately, but must be shown in order to see, that the copies are genuine.

What to bring?
Bring the application and supporting documents (originals as well as copies).

Requirements for copies:

A4

Copies must have print on 1 side only

No staples

The sequence of the documents should be as follows:

Application form

Copy of the passport (incl. passport pages with information on them: The data-page and pages with stamps, stickers etc.

Receipt for DIS payment

Copies of supporting documents

Residence permits for small children
We recommend bringing a recent photo of the child, which meets the requirements for a photo, here. The photo can be used if it is not possible to obtain a valid, new photo when submitting the application.

Interview with the applicant
Interviews are not mandatory for all residence permit applicants. Interviews are usually conducted with those, who plan to study at a folk high school or in basic and youth study programs, work as au pairs or work within certain kinds of professions in Denmark.

Applications submitted outside of China:

If a residence permit has been granted, please provide the Danish representation with the following in order to get the permit:

Your original passport

2 inch colour picture

Application fee

A copy of the first data page of your passport

Applications submitted in China but issued in a third country:It is possible for a person with residence in a third country to hand in an application in China. The decision can then be sent to a Danish mission of choice for issuing. In such cases, the original passport must be presented upon application and can then be handed back by the Danish mission (not the visa center), in order for the applicant to return home.

Information on how to apply for a Schengen visa, etc. is available under “ General knowledge” while information about where to submit is found on the website of the Visa Application Centre.

* Submission at the Visa Application Centres entails an administration fee to be paid directly to the Centre. The service fee varies every month according to the exchange rate. For information on the specific service fee, visit the website of the Visa Application Centre. The service fee is the same for all Visa Application Centres in China.

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